#Pokémon Bank 3DS App Opens Its Doors to Everyone By Going Free Starting March 2023

With the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop closing their doors in March 2023, with the adding of credit card funds to the service finishing earlier in May 2022, Pokémon has confirmed what will be happening with their Pokémon Bank service and PokéTransporter app on the Nintendo 3DS. Both apps will be continuing with some minor – and very welcome – changes.

 

For newer Pokémon trainers, Pokémon Bank is a vital link for long-time fans where they can bring up their Pokémon from the Nintendo DS (and through the DS games, from the Game Boy Advance) into the 3DS games as well as to Pokémon HOME via Bank, which lets the Pokémon caught available to be used in modern Pokémon games. This gives Pokémon caught in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire in 2003 the chance to move to Pokémon Sword and Shield – if they’re in the Galar national dex.

Pokémon announced that Pokémon Bank will be free from March 2023 onwards, with both the Bank and Transfer services to continue with transfers to HOME continuing to be available, but with one issue – the apps won’t be available to download after March 2023 due to the closure of the eShop. Though if you already have the apps downloaded, you’ll be able to redownload them for the time being.

Pokémon didn’t announce how long the free service will last, but for long-time Pokémon fans, it finally makes the service free – through new fans will find it hard to connect the DS and 3DS generation of Pokémon games once the changes go through, making a new disconnect between generations not seen since the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games.

Source: Pokémon

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Daryl Harding is a Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.